Sweet Revenge With My Billionaire Vampire

The restaurant was almost empty, save for a few staff members preparing for the day. It seemed like they had arrived just as it had opened.

A young waitress, looking only a year or two older than Adeline, approached them with a bright smile. "Welcome! Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing toward one of the empty tables.

Enzo raised a hand, stopping her. "We’re not here to eat."

The waitress’s smile faltered, replaced by a look of confusion. "Then... what are you here for?"

Adeline stepped forward, placing a hand on Enzo’s chest to lightly push him back, but instead, Enzo grabbed her, rubbing her wrist gently with his thumb with a sly smirk.

The moment his skin grazed hers, her body involuntarily shivered, a wave of sensations coursing through her. She quickly snatched her hand away, her throat suddenly going dry, causing her to awkwardly clear it. "We’re looking for someone named Miranda. Does she work here?"

The mention of Miranda’s name caused the waitress’s eyes to narrow suspiciously. "Why are you asking? Who are you?" she asked, taking a step back.

"Miranda used to work for us, and we need her help with something important," Adeline explained.

There was a moment’s hesitation as the waitress’s fingers clenched around the notepad clutched in her hand. "Miranda used to work here too. That’s all I can tell you."

"If there’s nothing else, then you should leave." Without waiting for a response, the waitress stepped back further and turned on her heel, ready to leave.

As the waitress began walking away, Enzo called out, "What if I..." He paused, slipping a hand into his pocket and pulling out four hundred-dollar bills. Holding them up, he fanned them out and added, "...paid you a good amount for the information."

The waitress stopped in her tracks, her back still to them. Slowly, she glanced over her shoulder, and when her eyes landed on the money in Enzo’s hand, they widened. "Is this guy serious?" she thought.

Her teeth dug into her bottom lip, her eyes darting to the floor. That money was more than she made in an entire month—money that could pay her overdue bills and help her out of the tight spot she was in. But Miranda was her friend. Giving out her location to strangers felt wrong, even if they seemed harmless. But the weight of her financial struggles pressed heavily on her mind.

Enzo raised an eyebrow, reading her hesitation. "It’s yours," he said, his tone patient but persuasive, "if you help us."

Finally, with a deep sigh, the waitress turned around, holding out her hand and gesturing for the money. "Fine. Give it to me."

Enzo flashed a smile, striding forward and gently depositing the stack of bills into her open palm.

"Do you have a pen and paper?" she asked.

Enzo nodded, pulling out a pen from the pocket of his tuxedo jacket. Then he reached into his pants pocket and fished out the piece of paper the head chef had written the previous address on. He handed both to the waitress and waited patiently as she began writing on the back of the paper.

Adeline stood there with her arms crossed, her jaw slightly ajar and her blue eyes wide in disbelief as she watched the exchange. Her eyes darted from the waitress to Enzo, utterly baffled at how casually he threw money around. "First the landlord, now her?" she thought, staring up at him.

Enzo caught her stare and winked playfully, but all he got in return was a frown from Adeline. He shrugged, grinning smugly as he said, "What, it’s just money."

Adeline nudged his arm. "Do you just carry wads of cash in your pocket or something? And do you plan to bribe every person we meet today?"

"It’s called being prepared. And, if bribing works, then why not?" he asked with a chuckle, shifting his attention back to the waitress.

The waitress completed filling in the information on the paper and returned it to Enzo along with the pen. Her fingers fidgeted restlessly, her eyes still drawn to the money in her hand as she momentarily reconsidered her decision. But it was too late to retract her actions now.

"Miranda quit working here about two and a half weeks ago," she explained, pointing to the address on the paper. "Last time I went to visit her, this is where she was staying."

Enzo nodded, giving the waitress a charming smile. "Thank you," he said sincerely, slipping the paper into his jacket. He placed a hand on Adeline’s back, guiding her toward the exit.

As they walked out of the restaurant, Adeline huffed and pulled away, turning to face him. "Seriously, though, just how much do you have in your pocket?."

Enzo chuckled, patting his pocket. "I’m a billionaire, Adeline. But to be honest, I have no idea," he admitted with a shrug.

Adeline rolled her eyes, brushing her blonde hair back. "I just hope we find her this time. I’m tired of all this running around."

---

About half an hour later, Enzo pulled the car into a driveway, parking in front of a house at the address the waitress had given them. He turned off the engine and turned to Adeline, who was rubbing her temples, visibly tired. "Come on, let’s go see if she’s here."

Adeline sighed, opening her door and stepping out. She took a moment to smooth her clothes before following Enzo to the front door.

He knocked, his knuckles rapping against the wooden surface while Adeline paced back and forth behind him. "Please be here..." She mused, wringing her hands.

"Coming!" a muffled voice came from inside.

Adeline ceased her pacing, her head snapping toward the door. Her heart raced as she stared at the entrance, hoping that this time, they’d finally find Miranda.

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, followed by the creak of the door opening. But when it did, Adeline’s heart sank.

The woman standing there was not Miranda. Instead, it was a middle-aged woman with brown hair tied into a loose bun. She wore an apron over her plain clothes, her eyes blinking at them with mild confusion.